Revelation 7th Division

Revelation 7th Division

Contents
VII. The Church in the Millennium (20:4-22:5)
A. Setting (20:4-10):
B. The Fulfilling of God's Seven-fold Plan

Scene 1: The old heaven and old earth (20:11)
Scene 2: The Last Judgement (20:12-15)
Scene 3: The New heaven and new earth (21:1)
Scene 4: The New Jerusalem (21:2-8)
Scene 5: Measuring the city (21:9-21)
Scene 6: The city's illumination (21:22-27)
Scene 7: The city's source of Life (22:1-5)

Conclusion: Reasons for believing this book to be true (22:6-20)
Closing Blessing: (22:21)

Revelation Chapter 20 (continued)

20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. VII: The Church in the Millennium (20:4-22:5)
A. Setting (20:4-10)
Once again, John is in heaven (having viewed the previous seven visions from earth). Just as he once viewed the beginning of the Judgement from the perspective of the Church in Heaven, now he views the millennium from the same perspective.
Vs. 4: "those to whom judgement was committed" those to whom the right has been given to act as judges.
Who are these people: The Church Triumphant composed of martyrs and those who have died in the lord.
"And I saw.. on their hands" = the martyrs

20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Vs. 5: "The first resurrection" = a spiritual resurrection, not a bodily one. It is the bodily resurrection to which Christians have always referred when speaking of THE resurrection of the dead.

20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Vs. 6: "the second death" = reference to the eternal death (i.e.: The Lake of Fire).
"they shall be priests of God and Christ" - this phrase is further evidence that the millennium is the period between Christ's Resurrection and the End of this age. These victors shall be priests in God's heavenly temple referred to in Rev. 3:12; 5:10 - a temple which will not exist in the New Age.

20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, Vs. 7: This is a new look at Armageddon. While the Kings on earth are gathering to do battle with each other (16:12-16), we have already mentioned that they do not see Christ and his legion of martyrs arriving.
These Kings also do not see Satan, unbound at last, arriving to join the battle with Gog and Magog.
Who are Gog and Magog?
These 2 are not the same as the Gog and Magog of Ezek 38-39. In Ezek, Gog is a person and Magog is a nation. For John, both are nations.
Here, Gog and Magog, whose "number is like the sand of the sea" symbolize all the nations of the world deceived by Satan's lies and opposed to God.

20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. *

20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. Vs. 9: "the camp of the saints and the beloved city"
"camp" = Israel's wilderness home during the Exodus (further proof that the Millennium is the time between Christ's resurrection and the End of the Age).
"The Beloved City" - the heavenly Jerusalem
Question: The heavenly Jerusalem hasn't yet descended. So how can this threat to the church on earth be a threat to the heavenly Jerusalem?
Answer: Because for John there is no earthly reality without a parallel heavenly reality. For John, in whatever place and time God's people are gathered together, there is the City of God. (See 3:12; 11:2). BUT don't make the mistake of equating the Church with the City of God.
"fire came down and consumed them" God intervened to save his people.

20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Vs. 10: At the Armageddon Satan himself is defeated

20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no placefor them. B. The Ultimate Fulfillment of God's Plan: 20:11-22:5
Scene 1: The Old Heaven and Earth (20:11)
Vs. 11: The first thing John saw in heaven was a throne (4:2) surrounded by a heavenly choir, singing hymns celebrating God's sovereign purpose in creation and the Lamb's redemptive victory.
This throne = the Godhead, the Trinity, the fullness of the Triune flee. (They don' t simply vanish, they flee - before God all creation is transitory: Isa 40:8; 51:6.)
At the onset of God's final judgement, the Old Age, which has been the spiritual home of those "citizens of earth" who refused to worship the Creator and instead chose idolatry, simply disappears without a trace.

20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Scene 2: The Last Judgement (20:12-15)
Vs. 12: This is THE resurrection
"the books" = the record books containing all the evidence the Court needs if men and women are to be judged by what they had done (vs 13). Yet this judgement is not based on debits and credits but on what God decides to remember and decides to forget (Rev 18:5 - see also Jer 31:34).
"the book of Life" = another book whose contents are thrown into the "audit"; this is the book that weights the scale of God's judgement in the favor of people by virtue of Christ's redemptive love for us (5:9). (Even though human disobediency may in the end prove impregnable to the force of God's love and so people will get their names removed: 3:5.)

20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. *

20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Vs. 14: Death itself is destroyed at the last Judgement.

20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Vs. 15: Those who had finally managed to yet their names removed from the Book of Life end up in the Lake of Fire: Perdition Hell.

Revelation Chapter 21

21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. Scene 3: The New Heaven and New Earth Throughout this long story of God's assult on the harden hearts of his enemies and the old corrupt age, John's readers have seen glimpses of the reward that is to be theirs.
They have heard the promises to the Conquerors, have seen glimpses of the white robed multitude and have heard snatches of praise. Now they stand on the mounr at the end of the Exodus and look into the promised land.
"the sea"= the source of all evil (4:6; 12:3; 13:1; 17:1)
Vs. 1: With the New Heaven and New Earth we see the answer that makes human history inteleeigible, credible and tolerable.
Here is that which makes John's encouragement to a martyr-church so confident asbout standing fast.

21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Scene 4: The New Jerusalem (21:2-8)
Vs. 2: "the holy City, the New Jerusalem" = the City of God, God's perfected victorious triumphant Church.
"the descent of the City" = a symbol that heaven and earth (God and His people) will live on the same plain - instead of God "in heaven" and people "on earth". This phrase simply means that God will no longer be "transcendent" but will be completely united with His people.

21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. Vs. 3-8: These verses are a description of what it will mean to people to be in union with God.

21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. *

21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. Vs. 5: = I will make all things new

21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. Vs. 6-8: = a special encouragement to John's church facing martyrdom (notice how "cowardice" heads the list).

21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. *

21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. *

21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. Scene 5: Measuring the City (21:9-21)
Vs. 9: The bride is the heavenly opposite to the whore of Babylon.

21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Vs. 10: "A great high mountain" = the true, heavenly Mt. Zion. (Isa 2:2; Mic 4:1; Zech 8:23; 14:16).
"out of heaven from God" we are now getting a detailed look at the vision of 12:1.

21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; Vs. 1l-14: the description of God's city.
Vs. 11: "radiance" = God's light (see 4:2-3), a sign of God's presence

21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: Vs. 12-13: The 12 high gates of the city = entrances so that all of God's people may enter (as opposed to Exek 48:30ff where the gates were exits for each tribe to go to their allotted land.
These 12 gates are entrances open to all the peoples of the world. These are 12 gates because 12 = the complete number of tribes of God's people.

21:13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Vs. 14: "The 12 foundation stones bearing the names of the 12 apostles" symbolize that the "12 tribes of vs 12" are the New Israel, built upon the revelation of God in Christ of which the apostles were eyewitnesses. The pure and completed church is built upon the witness of the apostles. This is a great consolation to John's struggling and suffering church.

21:15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. Vs. 15-17: The measuring of the city is intended to show its perfection:
"the city lies foresquare" - a square = the symbol of completeness
"12 thousand stadia" = 1500 miles
"cubit" = the distance from elbow to finger tip (on an angel's arm). The point: This city is huge and spacious.

21:16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. *

21:17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. *

21:18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. Vs. 18-21: This description is the result of trying to describe in words something that is unimaginably and indescribably beautiful:
pure gold - clear as glass
each gate - a single pearl
streets of gold - transparent as glass
The point of this description: the city is composed of the divine presence of God. Paradise has returned.
Aside: For those with an interest in astrology, these 12 stones = the stones of the zodiac. But John has listed them in perfect reverse order from the way this list would be given by someone intending to symbolize the zodiac. That John gives the list in perfect reverse order indicates John's complete disavowal, repudiation and repugnance of astrology.

21:19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; *

21:20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. *

21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. *

21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. Scene 6: The City's Illumination (21:22-27)
Vs. 22: "no temple" - The earthly temple had been the symbol of the presence of God in an otherwise secular and tainted world, and also the symbol of God's hatred of all that is "unclean". There is no temple in the New Jerusalem because the presence of God pervades the entire life and being of the city. NO symbol of God's presence is needed: God Himself is present.

21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. *

21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. Vs. 24: "the nations and the Kings" = all people may enter.
"their glory" = the praise brought God

21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. Vs. 25: "the gates stand open" = this is a time of eternal peace.

21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. *

21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. Vs. 27: "nothing unclean may enter" = a reference to the fact that all that is sinful and mean has been plunged into nothingness as though it had never been.
"the Lamb's Book of Life" = a confirmation of the fact that the purity of the presence of God will never again be dimmed by such things as mentioned in this verse. (This time the Book is referred to in a sense which is no longer judging and separating .1

Revelation Chapter 22

22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. Scene 7: The City's Source of Life (22:1-5) In this vision we see that the essence of the New Age is that it is Paradise Returned. This Age is the New Creation, as the 1st Creation was originally intended to be.
Vs. 1: "The river of the water of life" = a symbol of how life from God streames unceasingly through the renewed world (see John 7:37). (See also Ps 46:4)

22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Vs. 2: "the tree of life" = a symbol of paradise restored, with no chance of sun; now all can eat of its fruits and receive eternal healing.
This is the time of refreshment (Acts 3:19).

22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: *

22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. Vs. 4: "the name of God shall be on their foreheads" = once again humanity is in the image of God as before the Fall.

22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. Vs. 5: darkness is eliminated

22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Conclusion to the Book of Revelation
Epilogue: (22:6-20)
Vs. 6: "he" = Christ; the "guide" to these visions who came to John on "the Lord's day".
The splendor of the visions has faded and John is left alone with Christ. He whose name is Faithful and True (3:14; 19:11) gives John official approval to publish these visions by calling them faithful and true.

22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. Vs. 7-9: "Blessed is he who keeps the prophecy of this book" = "Blessed is the one who understands the true nature of the conflict between "the dragon and the Lamb", (between Rome and the Church) and who holds steadfast in the faith."

22:8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. *

22:9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. *

22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. Vs. 10: "Do not seal up the vision" = "publish this book and spread the message around because people need to know what is happening." This is not intended as a secret book for a closed circle who have special knowledge - "for the time is near".

22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. Vs. 11: "Let the evildoer still do evil, etc.". - These words are a plain call to the reader to put his or her life in order while there is still time and opportunity for change.

22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Vs. 12: "I am coming soon bringing my reward" -- the sense of these words is the reward which Christ has won for us (The New Jerusalem).
"to repay everyone for what he has done" -- this is not a call to good deeds; this is a call to martyrdom.

22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. *

22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Vs. 14: "those who wash their robes" = the martyrs who face death with confidence that the cross is the sign of utter victory over evil.
"they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates" = a reference to the immediate access to paradise offered the martyrs at the point of death.

22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. Vs. 15: These are the tormentors of the Christians; those whose fate is the Lake of Fire. (When the New Heaven and Earth finally comes there will be no "outside" for them: they will have disappeared into the Lake of Fire. It is now that they are "outside").

22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. Vs. 16: The exalted Lord makes it quite clear that He himself has granted these visions to John.

22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Vs. 17: "The Bride" = the perfected Church
"The Spirit" = the Holy Spirit who dwells in the Church on earth making it the body of Christ.

22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: Vs. 18: This verse is a warning to the reader from John. Nowhere is the temptation to speculate about the mind of God greater than in the sphere of visions of the End Time. But each of us must submit his or her imagination to God in order to avoid the dangers of exaggerated preoccupation about the End. When we do become preoccupied with speculation about the End, we become lost in the bypaths of our own imaginations. Then it will be true that God's plagues will fall on us for idolizing our own imaginations instead of worshipping God in the spirit of obedience.

22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. *

22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Vs. 20: Having seen what the End Time will mean, the Church still prays, "Come, Lord Jesus". (Maranatha)

22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Concluding Blessing (22:21)
The Revelation is concluded with the benediction which ended each worship service of the early Christian Church.

Final Thoughts

20:4	And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.	VII: The Church in the Millennium (20:4-22:5) A. Setting (20:4-10) Once again, John is in heaven (having viewed the previous seven visions from earth). Just as he once viewed the beginning of the Judgement from the perspective of the Church in Heaven, now he views the millennium from the same perspective. Vs. 4: "those to whom judgement was committed" those to whom the right has been given to act as judges. Who are these people: The Church Triumphant composed of martyrs and those who have died in the lord. "And I saw.. on their hands" = the martyrs
20:5	But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.	Vs. 5: "The first resurrection" = a spiritual resurrection, not a bodily one. It is the bodily resurrection to which Christians have always referred when speaking of THE resurrection of the dead.
20:6	Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.	Vs. 6: "the second death" = reference to the eternal death (i.e.: The Lake of Fire). "they shall be priests of God and Christ" - this phrase is further evidence that the millennium is the period between Christ's Resurrection and the End of this age. These victors shall be priests in God's heavenly temple referred to in Rev. 3:12; 5:10 - a temple which will not exist in the New Age.
20:7	And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,	Vs. 7: This is a new look at Armageddon. While the Kings on earth are gathering to do battle with each other (16:12-16), we have already mentioned that they do not see Christ and his legion of martyrs arriving. These Kings also do not see Satan, unbound at last, arriving to join the battle with Gog and Magog. Who are Gog and Magog? These 2 are not the same as the Gog and Magog of Ezek 38-39. In Ezek, Gog is a person and Magog is a nation. For John, both are nations. Here, Gog and Magog, whose "number is like the sand of the sea" symbolize all the nations of the world deceived by Satan's lies and opposed to God.
20:8	And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.	*
20:9	And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.	Vs. 9: "the camp of the saints and the beloved city" "camp" = Israel's wilderness home during the Exodus (further proof that the Millennium is the time between Christ's resurrection and the End of the Age). "The Beloved City" - the heavenly Jerusalem Question: The heavenly Jerusalem hasn't yet descended. So how can this threat to the church on earth be a threat to the heavenly Jerusalem? Answer: Because for John there is no earthly reality without a parallel heavenly reality. For John, in whatever place and time God's people are gathered together, there is the City of God. (See 3:12; 11:2). BUT don't make the mistake of equating the Church with the City of God. "fire came down and consumed them" God intervened to save his people.
20:10	And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.	Vs. 10: At the Armageddon Satan himself is defeated
20:11	And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no placefor them.	B. The Ultimate Fulfillment of God's Plan: 20:11-22:5 Scene 1: The Old Heaven and Earth (20:11) Vs. 11: The first thing John saw in heaven was a throne (4:2) surrounded by a heavenly choir, singing hymns celebrating God's sovereign purpose in creation and the Lamb's redemptive victory. This throne = the Godhead, the Trinity, the fullness of the Triune flee. (They don' t simply vanish, they flee - before God all creation is transitory: Isa 40:8; 51:6.) At the onset of God's final judgement, the Old Age, which has been the spiritual home of those "citizens of earth" who refused to worship the Creator and instead chose idolatry, simply disappears without a trace.
20:12	And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.	Scene 2: The Last Judgement (20:12-15) Vs. 12: This is THE resurrection "the books" = the record books containing all the evidence the Court needs if men and women are to be judged by what they had done (vs 13). Yet this judgement is not based on debits and credits but on what God decides to remember and decides to forget (Rev 18:5 - see also Jer 31:34). "the book of Life" = another book whose contents are thrown into the "audit"; this is the book that weights the scale of God's judgement in the favor of people by virtue of Christ's redemptive love for us (5:9). (Even though human disobediency may in the end prove impregnable to the force of God's love and so people will get their names removed: 3:5.)
20:13	And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.	*
20:14	And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.	Vs. 14: Death itself is destroyed at the last Judgement.
20:15	And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.	Vs. 15: Those who had finally managed to yet their names removed from the Book of Life end up in the Lake of Fire: Perdition Hell.

21:1	And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.	Scene 3: The New Heaven and New Earth Throughout this long story of God's assult on the harden hearts of his enemies and the old corrupt age, John's readers have seen glimpses of the reward that is to be theirs. They have heard the promises to the Conquerors, have seen glimpses of the white robed multitude and have heard snatches of praise. Now they stand on the mounr at the end of the Exodus and look into the promised land. "the sea"= the source of all evil (4:6; 12:3; 13:1; 17:1) Vs. 1: With the New Heaven and New Earth we see the answer that makes human history inteleeigible, credible and tolerable. Here is that which makes John's encouragement to a martyr-church so confident asbout standing fast.
21:2	And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.	Scene 4: The New Jerusalem (21:2-8) Vs. 2: "the holy City, the New Jerusalem" = the City of God, God's perfected victorious triumphant Church. "the descent of the City" = a symbol that heaven and earth (God and His people) will live on the same plain - instead of God "in heaven" and people "on earth". This phrase simply means that God will no longer be "transcendent" but will be completely united with His people.
21:3	And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.	Vs. 3-8: These verses are a description of what it will mean to people to be in union with God.
21:4	And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.	*
21:5	And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.	Vs. 5: = I will make all things new
21:6	And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.	Vs. 6-8: = a special encouragement to John's church facing martyrdom (notice how "cowardice" heads the list).
21:7	He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.	*
21:8	But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.	*
21:9	And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.	Scene 5: Measuring the City (21:9-21) Vs. 9: The bride is the heavenly opposite to the whore of Babylon.
21:10	And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,	Vs. 10: "A great high mountain" = the true, heavenly Mt. Zion. (Isa 2:2; Mic 4:1; Zech 8:23; 14:16). "out of heaven from God" we are now getting a detailed look at the vision of 12:1.
21:11	Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;	Vs. 1l-14: the description of God's city. Vs. 11: "radiance" = God's light (see 4:2-3), a sign of God's presence
21:12	And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:	Vs. 12-13: The 12 high gates of the city = entrances so that all of God's people may enter (as opposed to Exek 48:30ff where the gates were exits for each tribe to go to their allotted land. These 12 gates are entrances open to all the peoples of the world. These are 12 gates because 12 = the complete number of tribes of God's people.
21:13	On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
21:14	And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.	Vs. 14: "The 12 foundation stones bearing the names of the 12 apostles" symbolize that the "12 tribes of vs 12" are the New Israel, built upon the revelation of God in Christ of which the apostles were eyewitnesses. The pure and completed church is built upon the witness of the apostles. This is a great consolation to John's struggling and suffering church.
21:15	And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.	Vs. 15-17: The measuring of the city is intended to show its perfection: "the city lies foresquare" - a square = the symbol of completeness "12 thousand stadia" = 1500 miles "cubit" = the distance from elbow to finger tip (on an angel's arm). The point: This city is huge and spacious.
21:16	And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.	*
21:17	And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.	*
21:18	And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.	Vs. 18-21: This description is the result of trying to describe in words something that is unimaginably and indescribably beautiful: pure gold - clear as glass each gate - a single pearl streets of gold - transparent as glass The point of this description: the city is composed of the divine presence of God. Paradise has returned. Aside: For those with an interest in astrology, these 12 stones = the stones of the zodiac. But John has listed them in perfect reverse order from the way this list would be given by someone intending to symbolize the zodiac. That John gives the list in perfect reverse order indicates John's complete disavowal, repudiation and repugnance of astrology.
21:19	And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;	*
21:20	The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.	*
21:21	And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.	*
21:22	And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.	Scene 6: The City's Illumination (21:22-27) Vs. 22: "no temple" - The earthly temple had been the symbol of the presence of God in an otherwise secular and tainted world, and also the symbol of God's hatred of all that is "unclean". There is no temple in the New Jerusalem because the presence of God pervades the entire life and being of the city. NO symbol of God's presence is needed: God Himself is present.
21:23	And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.	*
21:24	And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.	Vs. 24: "the nations and the Kings" = all people may enter. "their glory" = the praise brought God
21:25	And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.	Vs. 25: "the gates stand open" = this is a time of eternal peace.
21:26	And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.	*
21:27	And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.	Vs. 27: "nothing unclean may enter" = a reference to the fact that all that is sinful and mean has been plunged into nothingness as though it had never been. "the Lamb's Book of Life" = a confirmation of the fact that the purity of the presence of God will never again be dimmed by such things as mentioned in this verse. (This time the Book is referred to in a sense which is no longer judging and separating .1

22:1	And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.	Scene 7: The City's Source of Life (22:1-5) In this vision we see that the essence of the New Age is that it is Paradise Returned. This Age is the New Creation, as the 1st Creation was originally intended to be. Vs. 1: "The river of the water of life" = a symbol of how life from God streames unceasingly through the renewed world (see John 7:37). (See also Ps 46:4)
22:2	In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.	Vs. 2: "the tree of life" = a symbol of paradise restored, with no chance of sun; now all can eat of its fruits and receive eternal healing. This is the time of refreshment (Acts 3:19).
22:3	And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:	*
22:4	And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.	Vs. 4: "the name of God shall be on their foreheads" = once again humanity is in the image of God as before the Fall.
22:5	And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.	Vs. 5: darkness is eliminated
22:6	And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.	Conclusion to the Book of Revelation Epilogue: (22:6-20) Vs. 6: "he" = Christ; the "guide" to these visions who came to John on "the Lord's day". The splendor of the visions has faded and John is left alone with Christ. He whose name is Faithful and True (3:14; 19:11) gives John official approval to publish these visions by calling them faithful and true.
22:7	Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.	Vs. 7-9: "Blessed is he who keeps the prophecy of this book" = "Blessed is the one who understands the true nature of the conflict between "the dragon and the Lamb", (between Rome and the Church) and who holds steadfast in the faith."
22:8	And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.	*
22:9	Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.	*
22:10	And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.	Vs. 10: "Do not seal up the vision" = "publish this book and spread the message around because people need to know what is happening." This is not intended as a secret book for a closed circle who have special knowledge - "for the time is near".
22:11	He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.	Vs. 11: "Let the evildoer still do evil, etc.". - These words are a plain call to the reader to put his or her life in order while there is still time and opportunity for change.
22:12	And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.	Vs. 12: "I am coming soon bringing my reward" -- the sense of these words is the reward which Christ has won for us (The New Jerusalem). "to repay everyone for what he has done" -- this is not a call to good deeds; this is a call to martyrdom.
22:13	I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.	*
22:14	Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.	Vs. 14: "those who wash their robes" = the martyrs who face death with confidence that the cross is the sign of utter victory over evil. "they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates" = a reference to the immediate access to paradise offered the martyrs at the point of death.
22:15	For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.	Vs. 15: These are the tormentors of the Christians; those whose fate is the Lake of Fire. (When the New Heaven and Earth finally comes there will be no "outside" for them: they will have disappeared into the Lake of Fire. It is now that they are "outside").
22:16	I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.	Vs. 16: The exalted Lord makes it quite clear that He himself has granted these visions to John.
22:17	And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.	Vs. 17: "The Bride" = the perfected Church "The Spirit" = the Holy Spirit who dwells in the Church on earth making it the body of Christ.
22:18	For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:	Vs. 18: This verse is a warning to the reader from John. Nowhere is the temptation to speculate about the mind of God greater than in the sphere of visions of the End Time. But each of us must submit his or her imagination to God in order to avoid the dangers of exaggerated preoccupation about the End. When we do become preoccupied with speculation about the End, we become lost in the bypaths of our own imaginations. Then it will be true that God's plagues will fall on us for idolizing our own imaginations instead of worshipping God in the spirit of obedience.
22:19	And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.	*
22:20	He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.	Vs. 20: Having seen what the End Time will mean, the Church still prays, "Come, Lord Jesus". (Maranatha)
22:21	The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.	Concluding Blessing (22:21) The Revelation is concluded with the benediction which ended each worship service of the early Christian Church.